Beverage tapping device

ABSTRACT

Apparatus for tapping a container comprising a container valve unit secured to the container. The container valve unit includes a fluid-dispensing passage and a self-closing valve with a fluiddispensing passage, and which valve has a closed position blocking fluid flow therethrough. A tapping unit cooperates with the container valve unit and effects opening of the self-closing valve of the container valve unit when locked thereto by a bayonet connection. The tapping unit has a passageway for receiving fluid from the container valve unit and an outlet for directing fluid therefrom to the use location. A valve means controls the flow of fluid from the tapping unit outlet and closes prior to disconnection of the tapping unit from the container valve unit.

United States Patent [191 Martin et a1.

1 1 BEVERAGE TAPPING DEVICE [75] Inventors: Richard E. Martin, Willoughby;

Anthony M. Gildone, Euclid; Sandor Frankfurt, Shaker Heights, all of Ohio [73] Assignee: GMF Inc., Cleveland, Ohio [22] Filed: June 29, 1972 [21] App]. No.: 267,670

[52] US. Cl 137/212, 222/4007, l37/6l4.06 [51] Int. Cl B65d 83/00 [58] Field of Search 137/212, 614.06; 222/4007; 285/3827, 319; 251/317 [56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,955,930 4/1934 Oliver 285/3827 X 2,037,207 4/1936 Brown 137/212 X 2,462,512 2/1949 Krme 137/614.06 2,638,914 5/1953 Flaith 137/212 3,603,621 9/1971 Parsons 285/319 FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS 1,003,447 9/1965 Great Britain 137/212 1,175,949 11/1958 France 251/317 Primary Examiner-Alan Cohan [57] ABSTRACT Apparatus for tapping a container comprising a container valve unit secured to the container. The container valve unit includes a fluid-dispensing passage and a self-closing valve with a fluid-dispensing passage, and which valve has a closed position blocking fluid flow therethrough. A tapping unit cooperates with the container valve unit and effects opening of the self-closing valve of the container valve unit when locked thereto by a bayonet connection. The tapping unit has a passageway for receiving fluid from the container valve unit and an outlet for directing fluid therefrom to the use location. A valve means controls the flow of fluid from the tapping unit outlet and closes prior to disconnection of the tapping unit from the container valve unit.

3 Claims, 8 Drawing Figures PATENIEDJUL sum 2 0 4 FIG. 3

PATENTED l 9l974 sum 3 or a FIG. 7

1 BEVERAGE TAPPING DEVICE The present invention relates to a system for tapping a container or keg for a beverage so that the beverage can be dispensed therefrom.

Beverage-tapping systems are conventionally used in dispensing of fluids such as beer for example. One particular type of beverage-tapping system involves the use of a key or container for the beverage and which container has a container valve unit on it which is biased to a closed position to prevent a beverage contained in the container or'key flowing therefrom during shipment or transit. For purposes of dispensing the beverage from the container, the container valve unit which is carried on the container must be opened. A conventional known beverage tapping system includes a tapping unit which cooperates with the container valve unit and which specifically effects opening of the container valve unit to allow the liquid or beverage which is in the container to be dispensed therefrom. Such beverage tapping systems have also been utilized which provide for directing carbon dioxide gas into the container to facilitate and aid in the removal of the beverage therefrom. Examples of beverage-dispensing systems of the abovenoted type are disclosed in Frankfurt US. Pat. No. 3,026,006 and Stevens US. Pat. No. 3,228,413.

The present invention is directed to an improved tapping system of the type where the keg or container for the beverage is provided with a self-closing container valve unit and wherein a tapping unit in the hands of the user cooperates with the container valve unit to effect opening of the container valve unit to l direct the flow of CO into the container to facilitate the removal of the beverage from the container, and 2) direct the flow of the beverage from the container. The tapping system of the present invention has all of the advantages of such known systems, but, in addition, has substantially improved functions and constructions.

The container valve unit of the present invention which is associated with the container comprises a body which may be secured to the keg in any conventional manner. That body contains a valve arrangement. The valve arrangement is such that it includes a spool-type valve for controlling the flow of CO into the container and a poppet valve which controls the flow of the beverage from the container. The spool valve and poppet valve are formed on a common member which is biased in a direction to cause the poppet valve to be closed and thereby block the flow of liquid from the container during shipment and where the spool is likewise closed so as to block the CO opening from communication with the atmosphere during shipment of the container.

The tapping unit which cooperates with the container valve unit includes a portion which cooperates with the member which forms the spool and poppet valve, and as the tapping unit is inserted into cooperative engagement with the container valve unit, the bias on the poppet and spool valves is overcome to effect an opening of the spool valve and the poppet valve so that the carbon dioxide may be directed. into the container and the beverage in the container may be directed therefrom'to the ultimate user. 7 7

For purposes of locking the container valve unit and the tapping unit together, the two units have a bayonettype interconnection so that upon insertion of the tapping unit into the body member of the container valve unit and then rotation of the tapping unit, an engagement of the bayonet connection is established so as to lock the two units together in a secure manner.

The tapping unit, when used, is connected by some conduit, preferably a flexible conduit, to a dispensing tap or the like. Typically, if the tapping system is used in a tavern for dispensing beer, the beer keg or container could be located a substantial distance in a cool environment away from the dispensing valve through which the beer is dispensed into glasses for sale by the tavern keeper. The conduit which interconnects the key and the dispensing valve is generally filled with the beverage being dispensed. One of the problems in the prior art has been that upon disconnection of the two units of the tapping system, the conduit which directs liquid to the dispensing valve from the container is open to the atmosphere and the liquid therein drains out on the floor. In order to handle that problem, the tapping system of the present invention has an automatic shutoff in the tapping unit so that prior to disconnection of the two units, a valve arrangement in the tapping unit is closed so as to prevent the drainage of fluid from that conduit which interconnects the tapping unit with the dispensing valve. in addition, the valve in the tapping unit, which automatically closes off prior to disconnection, is maintained closed until the tapping unit is locked in position with respect to the container valve unit. Accordingly, the present tapping system provides a delayed action in which a valve mechanism in the tapping unit opens only after the container valve unit and the tapping unit are securely locked together and closes prior to disconnection of the two units. Accordingly, this provides an automatic shutoff so that the conduit which interconnects the tapping unit and the dispensing valve will not drain when the tapping unit and container valve unit are disconnected.

The valve which provides the automatic control for the shutoff in the tapping unit comprises a rotatable barrel which rotates within the housing of the tapping unit, the housing being connected by the flexible conduit to the dispensing valve. The barrel rotates so as to align an opening therein which is in communication with the beverage in the container with an opening in the housing therefor. That rotation, however, of the barrel occurs only after the aforementioned bayonet locking connection is securely engaged. Moreover, on disconnection, the valve in the barrel is rotated in the reverse direction so as to close off and move the two passages, namely, the one in the barrel and the one in the housing of the tapping unit, out of alignment prior todisconnection of the bayonet coupling. There is a similar valve arrangement in the barrel and housing for the carbon dioxide The valve barrel and housing therefor which have the relative-rotation to provide for the afore-mentioned automatic shutoff for beverage and carbon dioxide prior to disconnection have a unique seal arrangement therebetween. Specifically, the valve barrel carries a cagetype seal which is unique in construction and provides the desired sealing engagement so as to prevent leakage of fluid between the relatively rotatable parts.

In addition, the present invention is also applicable for use with kegs or containers having a wide variety of constructions and may be attached to a container having any type of opening construction thereon. The container valve unit may be threaded onto the barrel,

which is of a generally conventional nature, or, alaternatively, a crimping cap may be utilized for crimping or clamping the container valve unit onto the container.

Further features and advantages of the present invention will be apparent to those skilled in the art to which it relates from the following detailed description of a preferred embodiment thereof made in connection with and reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a somewhat schematic perspective view of a dispensing system embodying the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a sectional view on an enlarged scale taken approximately along the section line 2-2 of FIG. 1 and illustrating the container valve unit;

FIG. 3 is a sectional view showing the container valve unit and tapping unit in cooperative locked engagement;

FIG. 4 is an enlarged view of a part of the tapping unit;

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary sectional view of the tapping unit;

FIG. 6 is an elevational view of a seal used in the tapping unit;

FIG. 7 is a somewhat schematic view of a portion of the tapping unit; and

FIG. 8 is a view of a modified container valve unit.

Referring to FIG. 1, there is illustrated a system in which beverage in a keg 10 is dispensed through a dispensing valve 11 to the ultimate user of the beverage. The dispensing valve 11 is connected by a suitable conduit, such as a flexible hose 12, to a tapping device or system, generally designated 14 and embodying the present invention. The tapping device 14 is also con nected by a conduit I6 to a supply or container of carbon dioxide gas 17, which gas is directed into the container by the tapping device 14 so as to assist in the dispensing of the beverage from the container l0. The dispensing valve or device 1 I may be of any conventional construction and, of course, includes a valve mechanism which is opened and closed upon movement of a handle Ila in accordance with the desired demand for beverage in the container 10.

The tapping system 14-, embodying the present invention, consists of two main units, one being a container valve unit, generally designated 20, and the other being a tap unit, generally designated 21. The container valve unit is secured to the keg l0 and is shipped therewith, and the tap unit 21 is used by the user and cooperates with the container valve unit 20 to effect the dispensing of the beverage as desired.

The key unit 20 includes a body member 30 which has a threaded portion 31 which cooperates with and is threaded into a threaded bung portion 32 formed integrally with the container 10. The body portion 30 has a projecting elongated hollow tubular portion 34 which projects downwardly into the container 10. At the lower end of the projecting portion 34, there is a threaded opening 36 into which an adapter 38 is threaded. The adapter 38 is suitably secured to a dispensing tube or tap tube 40 which projects downwardly into the keg to the bottom thereof, and through which the beverage in the container is dispensed. A suitable O-ring seal 42 is provided between the bung portion 32 of the container 10 and a shoulder 44 on the body portion 30 of the unit 210.

Located intermediate the ends of the projecting tubular portion 34 of the body member 30 is a shoulder portion 45 which has an opening 46 therethrough. A valve member, generally designated 47, projects through the opening 46, and the valve member 47 is movable longitudinally in the bore of the projecting portion 34. The valve member 47 has at its upper end a spool-type valve portion 50, and at its lower end a poppet valve portion 52. A spring member 54 acts between the shoulder 45 and the spool valve portion 50 and biases the valve member 47 in a vertical or upward direction as indicated in FIG. 2.

More specifically, the spring 54 biases the poppet valve 52 into engagement with its valve seat 60, blocking the flow of the beverage from the tube 40 past the valve 52. When the poppet valve 52 is in engagement with its valve seat 60, thereby closing same, the spool valve is located in the position shown in FIG. 2, and in that position the spool valve portion 50 is located so that O-rings 62 and 64 carried thereby at spaced locations are located on opposite sides of openings 66 which are located in the projecting portion 34. As a result of this construction, the openings 66 are blocked from communication with the central opening in the projection 34, and at the same time the poppet valve 52 is in engagement with the valve seat 60.

From the above, it should be apparent that the container valve unit 20 is of an automatic shutoff-type with the valve 52 automatically closed and in a biased closed position during shipment of the keg. Likewise, the openings 66 are closed from communication with the atmosphere due to the positioning of the spool valve portion 50 in the location shown in FIG. 2. Accordingly, the keg 10 with the container valve unit 20 thereon is shipped free of the possibility of outside atmosphere or foreign matter being communicated into the keg and likewise free of concern of the contents of the container leaking from the keg.

When it is desired to tap the keg 1(1), as noted hereinabove, the tapping or user unit 21 is positioned in cooperative association with the keg unit 20 to effect opening of the poppet valve 52 so that the beverage in the container may be directed therefrom, and the opening of the spool valve 50 so as to enable carbon dioxide to be directed into the keg 10 through openings 66 to facilitate and assist in the dispensing of the beverage from the keg. The tap unit 21 includes a body portion 100. The body portion has opposite projecting portion 101 and 101a. The portion 101 is suitably connected in a suitable manner with the conduit 12 and the portion 101 has a passageway 102 for directing fluid into the conduit 12 so that the fluid may be directed to and dispensed from the dispensing valve arrangement 11. The portion 101a of the tapping device of the body 100 also has a passageway 106. The passageway I06 communicates with the carbon dioxide supply conduit 16 and is connected to the conduit 16 by a suitable connector or adapter 108. A nut i cooperates with a threaded portion M2; on the projection 101a and clamps the various parts together.

Located in the conduit 106 are flexible lever-type members 112a which function as a valve and which open under the pressure of the carbon dioxide being directed therein and which are biased closed by the inherent resiliency thereof. The members 112a prevent or block the flow of beverage through the opening 66 and into the passageway 106 past the members into the carbon dioxide supply upon a malfunction of some type in the unit.

The body member 100 also has a threaded bore 114 in which is threaded a suitable relief-valve arrangement, generally designated 116. The relief-valve arrangement 116 is a safety valve for venting carbon dioxide pressure to the atmosphere in the event of an excessive pressure being established in passage 106. Such relief values are of common construction and will not be described in detail herein. It should be noted, however, that the relief valve includes a threaded member with a nut or head 120 thereon which is located above the upper surface of the body member 100.

The body member 100 has a central bore 122 therein. The bore 122 has a wide end portion 122a which communicates with the lower end of the body 100 and has an upper portion 122b which communicates with the upper end of the body. The two portions 122a and 122b, being of different diameters, provide a shoulder 124 therebetween.

A barrel-type valve member, generally designated 130, is located in the bore 122. The barrel member 130 includes a main body portion 131 which is located in the bore 122a and an upper projecting portion 132 which projects upwardly from the portion 131 and through the bore portion 122b in the body 100. The portion 132 of the member 130 has a tapped opening 134 and a suitable handle 136 is secured to the upper projecting portion 132 of the member 130 by a suitable fastening screw 138.

The handle member 136 has a hub portion 140 and a suitable spring detent mechanism 141 is carried by that hub portion. The spring detent mechanism 141 is threaded into an opening 142 in the hub portion 140 and has a detent 143 forming a portion thereof. The detent 143 is received in a recess or opening 144 (See FIG. 4) in the upper surface of the body member 100 when the tapping unit is closed, as will be described hereinbelow. A suitable curved-type spring washer encircles portion 132 and applies a biasing force urging the barrel member 130 downwardly relative to the body 100 and holds the parts in engagement.

' In order to effect a locking of the tap unit 21 with the container valve unit 20, the two units are provided with a bayonet-type of locking connection. In this connection, the body member 30 of the keg unit 21 has upwardly projecting portions 150 and 151 both of which have radially inwardly directed projections 150a and 151a, respectively. These projections are located 180 apart and project toward each other.

The body member 100 has a lower projecting portion 155 which projects downwardly between the radial projections 150a and 151a. The portion 155 carries a pair of radially directed flanges 155a and 155b. The flanges 155a and l55b have cam or ramp portions 160 which cooperate with the undersurfaces 161 and 162, respectively, of the radially directed projections 150a, 151a.

The tap unit 21 is secured in position with respect to the container valve unit by inserting the tap unit 21 downwardly until the portions 155a and 155!) are located beneath the cooperating portions 150a and 151a. Then the tap unit 21, including the handle 136, the body member 100, as well as the member 130, is rotated so as to cause a rotation of the portions 155a and b relative to the body member 30 of the container valve unit 20. This results in a locking engagement between the upper surfaces 161 and 162 of the portions 155a and 155b, respectively, with the under surfaces of the projections 150a, 151a. These parts rotate as a unit due to the fact that the detent 141 is received in opening 144.

When the tap unit 21 is inserted into cooperative engagement to effect a locking thereof to the keg unit 20, a projecting portion, designated 170, of the barrel member 130 projects downwardly into the portion 34 of the container valve unit. The outer tip 171 of the portion engages the shoulder 172 on the valve member 47 and forces the valve member 47 downwardly, as viewed in FIG. 2, to the position illustrated in FIG. 3. It should be apparent that the outer tip 171 of the portion 170 is inserted into an O-ring seal 174 so as to prevent leakage of fluid between the internal portion of the spool valve member 50 and the projecting portion 170. Also, it should be apparent that O-ring 171a carried by the member 130 engages tapered surface 3OX of the body member 30 of the container valve unit 20 to provide a seal therebetween.

When the projection 170 is inserted into and engages the shoulder 172 on the member 47, the member 47 is moved thereby against the bias of the spring 54. This results in performing two functions. One function is the opening of the poppet valve 52 so that the fluid may then flow through the tube 40 around the poppet valve 52 through radially directed openings 178 into the interior 180 of the member 47. The fluid may then flow through the interior 182 of the member 170 upwardly into a radially directed bore 184 and if the bore 184 is aligned with the passageway 102, as will be discussed hereinbelow, the fluid may flow directly to the dispensing valve 11.

At the same time, as the poppet valve 52 is opened by the insertion of the member 170 into cooperative engagement with the member 47, the spool valve portion 50 is moved downwardly to the position shown in FIG. 3. This effects opening of the passage 66 so that carbon dioxide may flow from the supply 17 through the conduit 16, the passageway 106 and into a radially directed passageway and into a vertically directed passageway 191 in the barrel member 130, if the passage 190 is aligned with the passage 106. That fluid likewise flows between the projecting portion 34 of the member 30 and the projecting member 170 of the barrel member 130, and then radially outwardly through V the openings 66 into the container 10.

In the above description, it is noted that both carbon dioxide may flow into the container 10 and the beverage may flow out of the container 10, if, on the one hand, the opening 190 in the barrel member 130 is aligned with the passageway 106 and, if, on the other hand, the passage way 184 is aligned with the passageway 102. When the unit 21 is inserted into unit 20 to effect a locking engagement thereof, these passageways are not aligned. When the member is initially inserted into position so as to open the valve member 52 and the spool valve 50, as noted hereinabove, it is necessary, to rotate the housing member 100 to effect a locking of the bayonet connection between the housing member 100 and the body 30 of the keg unit 20. This rotation effects no relative rotation between the barrel member 130 and the housing 100, due to the effect or action of the detent 143. However, once the body member 100 has rotated into a position where the two parts, namely, the container valve unit 20 and the tap unit 21, are locked together so that the body member 100 can not rotate further, further rotation of the handle 13 6 will not effect rotation of the body member 100, since it is blocked from rotation due to the locking action of the bayonet coupling connection.

Accordingly, further rotation of the handle 136 causes a rotation of the barrel member 130 within the body 100. This rotation can be effected even though the O-ring 174 is in sealing engagement with the projection 170, which projection rotates within the O-ring 174. Rotation of the handle member 136 is provided for and permitted until a projecting portion I900 (See FIG. 7) on the hub 140 engages the nut 120, and, accordingly, at that point further rotation of the handle is prohibited. However, the unit is constructed so that at that point the bore 190 is aligned with the passage 106 and the bore 184 is aligned with the passage 102 and is now operative to direct carbon dioxide into the keg and to direct the liquid from the keg.

It should be apparent, however, that during the assembly or insertion of the tap unit 21 into cooperative locking engagement with the keg unit 20, neither carbon dioxide nor beverage could be directed into or from the conduits 16 and I2, due to the fact that the bores I90 and 1184, respectively, were not in alignment with the bores 106 and 102, respectively, but rather are located as shown in FIG. 5. Also, when the units have been locked together, the handle 136 is in the position illustrated in FIG. 7 relative to the nut I20 and the detent 143 is still in recess I4 4. The continued rotation of the handle 136 after the units have been locked together causes rotation of the barrel 130 to effect alignment of passage I84 with bore 106 and alignment of passage I90 with bore 102. During this rotation the detent 143 is moved out of recess 144- and this rotation continues until projection 190a engages nut 120, at which point the alignment has been effected and the beverage can then be dispensed. The slope of cam or ramp portions 160 with the force of spring 124 prevents body member 100 from rotation in relation to body member until projection 190a engages nut 120.

Once the keg has been emptied by the dispensing of the beverage therefrom, it is necessary to disconnect the tap unit 21 from the container valve unit 20, and this occurs in a very beneficial way, due to the fact the valve arrangement is such that initial rotation of the handle 136 causes the valve barrel member 130 to rotate therewith relative to the body member 100, it remaining locked to the body member 30. This results in the bore 184 moving out of alignment with the bore 102 and likewise the bore 190 moving out of alignment with the bore 106 back to the position shown in FIG. 5. Accordingly, this arrangement results in a closing or blocking of the flow of fluid into or from the conduits l2 and 16.

After the initial amount of rotation of the handle member 136 occurs, the detent 142 drops into the recess 144- in the body member 100 and then further rotation of the handle I36 results in the body member 100 rotating along with the handle 136. This results in an unlocking of the bayonet connections between the tap unit 21 and the container valve unit 20 and therefore, once released, the tap unit 21 can be removed from the keg by raising it. As that removal occurs, the

spring 54 biases the poppet valve 52 back to a closed position, as well as the spool valve portion 50 back to its closed position.

It is important to note that prior to the disconnection and unlocking of the tap unit 21 from the keg unit 20, the valve arrangement of the aligned passages in the barrel member 130 and the housing member is such that this valve arrangement is closed. As a result. any fluid which is located in the conduit 12 is blocked from flow from the conduit 12 upon the disconnection of the tap unit 21 from the container valve unit 20. In the prior art devices known, when such disconnection occurs, any beverage in such a conduit 12 would drain therefrom onto the floor, resulting in a waste of fluid and generally being detrimental and undesirable. The tapping device disclosed herein is the first which includes or provides a construction where there is a delay action which causes opening of the valve for directing fluid from the tapping device only after the tap unit is attached and locked to the container valve unit 20; and likewise whereupon disconnection of the two units, a valve mechanism is operated to automatically block off the conduits leading to and from the tapping device prior to detaching or unlocking of the tap unit from the container valve unit.

From the above description, it should be apparent that the barrel member rotates relative to the body member 100 to effect the alignment of the various passages during the operation of the tapping system for tapping of a keg. This relative rotation, of course, requires a seal structure interposed between the barrel member and the bore 122 in the body member 100. The specific seal arrangement which is utilized at this location is a one-piece cage-type seal structure, generally designated 200 and shown in FIG. 6. The seal includes upper and lower ring portions 201 and 202 which encircle the portion 131 of the barrel member 130. The portions of the seal 201 and 202 are vertically spaced and located on opposite sides of the openings and 184 in the barrel member. In addition, there are four vertically arranged seal ribs, designated 203, 204, 205 and 206. The ribs are arranged so that two of the ribs extend on each side of the passage 190 and two opposite ribs extend on each side of the passage 184, as shown in FIG. 5. When the valve or barrel member 130 is located in its closed or open position, it should be apparent that the ribs 203-206 provide a seal for preventing leakage of both carbon dioxide and the beverage between the barrel member 130 and'the body member 100.

A modification of the present invention is illustrated in FIG. 8. As noted hereinabove, the container valve unit embodying the present invention can be utilized in a wide variety of different keg or container constructions. A modified container valve unit is shown in FIG. 8 and which is structurally similar to that described hereinabove, with the exception that it is utilized with a barrel unit which does not have a threaded opening therein. In view of the similarity of the units, only the differences will be described herein, and those relate to the manner of securing of the unit 20 to the container 10.

In the embodiment shown in FIG. 8, the body 30 of the container valve unit 20 does not have a threaded portion but rather has radially projecting portions, generally designated 250. The portions 250 project through openings in a nut 412 which is threadless but rather is a crimp-type nut. The sides of the nut have slots for receiving the portion 250 of the body 30 and the bottom flange portion of the nut is crimped under the projecting shoulder portion 2520 of the barrel or keg 10. As a result, the crimp nut clamps the body portion 30 of the container valve unit 20 onto the keg. The crimping of the portion 252, of course, occurs after the parts are assembled as shown.

In the embodiment of FlG. 8, any suitable means may be provided for securing the tapping nut 21 onto the body unit 30, and accordingly such is not shown or will be described in detail. However, a suitable type of bay onet connection may be provided between cooperating portions 260 of the tapping unit 21, shown in phantom in F IG. 8, with the outer ends of the projecting portions 250.

Both embodiments of the present invention are capable of being used for tandem tapping of beverage containers. in tandem tapping, a series of containers 10 are interconnected. Specifically, the outlet passage 102 of one container is connected with the inlet passage 106 of the next tap unit. As a result the beverage, which is dispensed ,is dispensed through the various containers in a tandem manner. The first container is connected with a C supply. In order to provide for such tandem tapping, the passageway 106 is appropriately sized with respect to the passageway 102 in order to enable a steady flow of beverage through the units. And, in fact, the various flow passageways are substantially equal in flow capability. This is true notwithstanding the fact that the passageway 106 is provided for directing CO into the container when the unit is not being used for tandem tapping.

Having described our invention, we claim:

1. Apparatus for tapping a container comprising a container valve unit having a fluid-dispensing passage including a self-closing valve in said passage and which self-closing valve has a closed position blocking fluid flow therethrough, a tapping unit having a portion cooperable with said self-closing valve to effect opening thereof upon insertion of said tapping unit into said container valve unit, said container valve unit having a body portion adapted to be secured in an opening in said container, said tapping unit also having a body portion, said body portion of said tapping unit and said body portion of said container valve unit having cooperable bayonet connecting means which interconnect and lock said units together upon insertion of said tapping unit into said body portion of said container unit and upon relative rotation therebetween, said tapping unit having a passageway for receiving fluid from said fluid-dispensing passage and for directing fluid therefrom, said body portion of said tapping unit having an outlet therein and a barrel member inserted in a chamber in said body member and rotatable therein, said barrel member having a passageway therein communieating with said fluid-dispensing passage, means supporting said barrel member for rotation relative to said outlet in said body member of said tapping unit to effect alignment of said passageway in said barrel member with the outlet in said body member and to move said passageway out of alignment with said outlet on disconnection of the tapping unit from the container valve unit, said barrel member having a handle secured thereto and which is turned to effect rotation of said barrel member relative to said body member and a detent mechanism acting between said handle member 1 flow therethrough, a tapping unit having'a portion cooperable with said self-closing valve to effect opening thereof upon insertion of said tapping unit into said container valve unit, said container valve unit having a body portion adapted to be secured in an opening in said container, said tapping unit also having a body portion, said body portion of said tapping unit and said body portion of said container valve unit having cooperable connecting means which interconnect and lock said units together upon insertion of said tapping unit into said body portion of said container unit and upon relative rotation therebetween, said tapping unit having a passageway for receiving fluid from said fluiddispensing passage and for directing fluid therefrom, said body portion of said tapping unit having an outlet therein and a barrel member inserted in a chamber in said body member and rotatable therein, said barrel member having a passagewqy therein communicating with said fluid-dispensing passage, means supporting said barrel member for rotation relative to said outlet in said body member of said tapping unit to effect alignment of said passageway in said barrel member with the outlet in said body member and to move said passageway out of alignment with said outlet, said barrel member having a handle secured thereto and which is turned to effect rotation of said barrel member relative to said body member, and a detent mechanism acting between said handle member and said body member to enable rotation of said barrel member and said body member to occur together to effect locking engagement of said connecting means, and means responsive to locking engagement of said connecting means to release said detent mechanism to enable said barrel member to rotate relative to said body member only after said locking means has locked said body portions together.

3. Apparatus for tapping a container having an opening therein and projecting portions around the opening comprising a container valve unit having a fluiddispensing passageway, a self-closing valve in said passageway and which has a closed position blocking fluid flow therethrough, a tapping unit having a portion cooperable with the self-closing valve to effect opening thereof, said tapping unit having a body portion and said container valve unit likewise having a body portion, said container valve unit being insertable through the opening in said container and having a tubular portion projecting thereinto with said self-closing valve being supported in said portion, and means for securing said container valve unit in said opening in said container including a crimping cap means which cooperates with a part of said body portion of said container valve unit and a part of said container, said crimping cap means comprising a cap portion which has sides with slots therein for receiving projecting portions of said body portion of said container valve unit and deformable tang portions projecting downwardly and which are deformable under projecting portions of the container in order to effect a clamping of said body portion of said container valve unit to said container. =0: 

1. Apparatus for tapping a container comprising a container valve unit having a fluid-dispensing passage including a selfclosing valve in said passage and which self-closing valve has a closed position blocking fluid flow therethrough, a tapping unit having a portion cooperable with said self-closing valve to effect opening thereof upon insertion of said tapping unit into said container valve unit, said container valve unit having a body portion adapted to be secured in an opening in said container, said tapping unit also having a body portion, said body portion of said tapping unit and said body portion of said container valve unit having cooperable bayonet connecting means which interconnect and lock said units together upon insertion of said tapping unit into said body portion of said container unit and upon relative rotation therebetween, said tapping unit having a passageway for receiving fluid from said fluid-dispensing passage and for directing fluid therefrom, said body portion of said tapping unit having an outlet therein and a barrel member inserted in a chamber in said body member and rotatable therein, said barrel member having a passageway therein communicAting with said fluid-dispensing passage, means supporting said barrel member for rotation relative to said outlet in said body member of said tapping unit to effect alignment of said passageway in said barrel member with the outlet in said body member and to move said passageway out of alignment with said outlet on disconnection of the tapping unit from the container valve unit, said barrel member having a handle secured thereto and which is turned to effect rotation of said barrel member relative to said body member and a detent mechanism acting between said handle member and said body member to enable rotation of said barrel member and said body member to occur together to effect locking of said bayonet connecting means, and means responsive to locking of said connecting means to release said detent mechanism to enable said barrel member to rotate relative to said body member only after said bayonet locking means has locked said body portions together.
 2. Apparatus for tapping a container comprising a container valve unit having a fluid-dispensing passage including a self-closing valve in said passage and which self-closing valve has a closed position blocking fluid flow therethrough, a tapping unit having a portion cooperable with said self-closing valve to effect opening thereof upon insertion of said tapping unit into said container valve unit, said container valve unit having a body portion adapted to be secured in an opening in said container, said tapping unit also having a body portion, said body portion of said tapping unit and said body portion of said container valve unit having cooperable connecting means which interconnect and lock said units together upon insertion of said tapping unit into said body portion of said container unit and upon relative rotation therebetween, said tapping unit having a passageway for receiving fluid from said fluid-dispensing passage and for directing fluid therefrom, said body portion of said tapping unit having an outlet therein and a barrel member inserted in a chamber in said body member and rotatable therein, said barrel member having a passagewqy therein communicating with said fluid-dispensing passage, means supporting said barrel member for rotation relative to said outlet in said body member of said tapping unit to effect alignment of said passageway in said barrel member with the outlet in said body member and to move said passageway out of alignment with said outlet, said barrel member having a handle secured thereto and which is turned to effect rotation of said barrel member relative to said body member, and a detent mechanism acting between said handle member and said body member to enable rotation of said barrel member and said body member to occur together to effect locking engagement of said connecting means, and means responsive to locking engagement of said connecting means to release said detent mechanism to enable said barrel member to rotate relative to said body member only after said locking means has locked said body portions together.
 3. Apparatus for tapping a container having an opening therein and projecting portions around the opening comprising a container valve unit having a fluid-dispensing passageway, a self-closing valve in said passageway and which has a closed position blocking fluid flow therethrough, a tapping unit having a portion cooperable with the self-closing valve to effect opening thereof, said tapping unit having a body portion and said container valve unit likewise having a body portion, said container valve unit being insertable through the opening in said container and having a tubular portion projecting thereinto with said self-closing valve being supported in said portion, and means for securing said container valve unit in said opening in said container including a crimping cap means which cooperates with a part of said body portion of said container valve unit and a part of said container, said crimping cap means comprising a cap portion which has sides with slots therein for receiving projecting portions of said body portion of said container valve unit and deformable tang portions projecting downwardly and which are deformable under projecting portions of the container in order to effect a clamping of said body portion of said container valve unit to said container. 